Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere
Release Date: May 27, 2016
Honestly, I didn't even know this album existed until a few days ago. And since it was released this year, that gives me the option to give it both my review overall and the impressions I had on it through my first (and probably only) listen. But before we do that, let's get a little bit of background for those that aren't too familiar with this band. Hell, if you're not familiar with them by now, you must be living under a rock.
Anyway, people know Thrice for their albums such as The Illusion of Safety and The Artist in the Ambulance. I know them however from their Vheissu album and onward. I've given the other albums a listen, obviously. I find them rather enjoyable and would listen to them any day of the week, however, Vheissu and even The Alchemy Index albums are both phenomenal in terms of the band getting themselves to do something different and doing it properly. I would listen to those albums any day of the week at any time and never be disappointed. However, with any band, there has to be a point where the music becomes a bit too much to bare and to a point, it gets to feel unimpressive and lacking of any sort of creativity, and unfortunately, that's where the most recent album sits for me. I purposely left out Beggars and Major / Minor because I haven't given them a fair listen to really judge them, so I'm staying away from those until I find the time to listen to them. Lots of albums, not a lot of time, know what I mean?
It's a shame really, but yes, the album left me not only disappointed, but left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I've come to know Thrice for their usage of being able to be heavy, and a little soft simultaneously. Obviously if you listen to Vheissu and The Alchemy Index albums, you'll know what I mean. This one however felt like it was directly influenced by old school Blink 182, which to some isn't really a bad thing, but for me, it's not the Thrice i've come to really get enjoyment out of. The vocals seem to be lacking as well, and it's not easy to listen to a song the whole way through if you can't stand the vocals. It really doesn't sound like typical Thrice and that's a problem for me, being a fan of theirs since the Vheissu years.
By all means, feel free to give the album a listen, to at least give it it's fair shot at either being your liking or not. I don't know, there's just been so many good releases this year, and for a band like this to not be up to par with a lot of the other great releases brought out this year is just disappointing. Hopefully they make up for it in the next album that is or isn't yet to come. We'll see, but for now, I plan to just stick to what I know and enjoy Vheissu and The Alchemy Index albums.